Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, marking their first face-to-face meeting after what has turned into a tumultuous relationship between the neighboring countries.
Carney joined Trump in the Oval Office for a meeting as the two took questions from the media.
Carney indicated he wanted to talk to President Trump about the ongoing tariff war, as well as several other issues, including the lack of respect Trump has shown Canada in his repeated comments about making the country our 51st state.
On Tuesday, Carney addressed President Trump's comments on annexing Canada into the U.S.
"As you know, from real estate, there will be some places that will never be on sale. We’re sitting in one right now. You know Buckingham Palace, which you’ve visited as well," Carney said, which prompted a chuckle from Trump, who said, "That's true." "And having met with the owners of Canada, in the course of the campaign the last several months, it’s not for sale — won’t be for sale, ever."
President Trump gave credit to Canada for stepping up military efforts, but regarding the annexation of Canada, President Trump said "never say never."
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Speaking to reporters after the White House meeting, Carney warned that a single starting meeting would not be a panacea — but he suggested there was a way forward to begin rebuilding relations between the countries.
"We have a lot of more work to do. I’m not trying to suggest that we can have one meeting and everything is changed. But now we’re engaged," he said.
"I look forward and not back, and I think we established a good basis today," he said.
Carney said he hoped Canada and the U.S. would at some point in the future arrive at a new agreement on trade, noting that Canada would have to determine in its negotiations whether to trust the U.S. to honor a new deal.
"There will be zigs and zags," he said of the process.
One of the first steps was a request: Carney said he asked Trump during their private meeting to stop referring to Canada as the "51st state."
The White House meeting comes as President Trump's new regime of tariffs and counter-tariffs are starting to show more effects.
The U.S. now charges 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, vehicles, and nonexempt auto parts. President Trump has also threatened additional tariffs on pharmaceuticals, lumber, and the film industry.
Canada, in response, has implemented some retaliatory tariffs.
"There's lots of reasons to build Canada strong, but the point is, and I will make this point repeatedly, we have more than enough to do here at home. That point about we can give ourselves more than the Americans can take away is absolutely right," Carney said.
Carney was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister on March 14, replacing Justin Trudeau. Last month, Carney's Liberal Party emerged victorious in the country's parliamentary elections.
